Is Horticulture an Essential Service?
Yes, as confirmed on the DAFM website, on the FAQ page. Horticultural production, including nurseries, are deemed to be included within the Agriculture Essential Business List. Activities may include the ongoing seasonal planting, harvest and maintenance of horticulture plants.
Therefore, it can be deemed that the work of landscapers with plants including planting and watering is covered under the essential service definition above. It is a matter for each company/individual to objectively and fairly assess whether they are involved in providing an essential service and then whether any individual is essential in providing that particular service. Landscaping covers a wide range of activities, not all of which could be deemed essential. Each landscaping project can vary in terms of the particular activity being undertaken which needs to be taken into account in deciding if it is an essential service or not.
The following landscaping activities are considered permissible during the current restrictions:
1. Landscape contractors are permitted to complete planting elements only of contracts where there is a threat to the survival/health/viability of the plants should this work not be completed, once you have written direction from the client to do so.
2. Landscape maintenance is permitted to maintain the survival/health/viability of planting schemes recently completed, or, where ongoing maintenance is normally required to achieve this goal (e.g. roof gardens), once you have written direction from the client to do so.
3. Landscape contractors are permitted to carry out an activity that is necessary for the continued provision of an essential service by another organisation. Therefore, you are permitted to carry out landscape maintenance to such organizations, once you have written direction from the client to do so.
4. Landscape contractors are permitted to carry out an activity that is necessary for Council or State Bodies. You are permitted to carry out landscape maintenance for such organisations, once you have written direction from the client to do so.
